Merle J. Leeper

LEEPER, MORFORD, DEVAULT, MAPES, JENKINS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 5/28/2006 at 16:34:17

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
2000

Merle J. Leeper, 95, of Earlham died Oct. 1, 2000, from complications of pneumonia.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Penn Center United Methodist Church of rural Earlham with the Revs. Robert Farr and Robert Williams officiating. Burial was at Penn Center Cemetery.

Merle Leeper was born July 27, 1905, to Frank A. and Lillian (Morford) Leeper of rural Earlham. He graduated from Dexter High School in 1924. On Nov. 28, 1928, he married Ruth E. DeVault at Penn Center United Methodist Church. A farmer, Merle also had driven a school bus for 18 years for the Earlham Community School District. He was a life-long member of the Penn Center United Methodist Church where he had served on the board of trustees and as church treasurer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Lola Mapes of Urbandale and Janet Jenkins of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; a son Ross Leeper of Indianola; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.